3 Historic Theatres Transformed for Modern Concerts
19 hours ago
4 min read
Across Northern California, a new chapter is beginning for the region's most famous stages. In San Francisco, Sacramento, and Berkeley, three landmark venues have reopened, expanded, or been built from the ground up. Each one was shaped by CAW Architects, a firm known for carefully preserving the area's architectural heritage.
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Bruce Damonte
These three projects—a century-old movie palace, a brand-new concert hall, and a hillside amphitheatre older than Hollywood—show how California's cultural institutions are changing. They remind us that it's possible to honor history while welcoming the future.
Before its $41 million restoration, the Castro Theatre was already special—a true sanctuary. Built in 1922 by Timothy Pflueger, the theatre stands out for its dramatic style, blending Spanish, Asian, Italian, and Art Deco influences. For decades, it has been a beloved gathering place for LGBTQ+ culture, a role it holds as proudly as its decorative ceilings.
CAW led the theatre's rehabilitation, working with preservation experts Page & Turnbull, theatre consultants Shalleck Collaborative, and Another Planet Entertainment. The goal was not just to restore the building, but to make this century-old cinema flexible for today's concerts while keeping the spirit that made it special.
The highlight of the project is a unique movable orchestra floor. It can quickly change the space from a classic, sloped seating arrangement for movies to a flat, open area for standing crowds at live shows.
EverGreene Architectural Arts carefully restored the theatre's original painted ceiling and sgraffito murals, bringing back its artistic beauty. The project also added modern features: the world's largest digital organ, advanced theatrical systems, and fully ADA-accessible seating and stage areas, created with BuildIT, the first LGBTQ construction advocacy group.
"The primary challenge was to allow the building to honour its role as a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ culture and classic cinema, while adapting it to meet the demands of live performances. The bespoke movable floor system creates the classic raked seated orchestra, which can adapt quickly for a standing room live music event.” - Christopher Wasney, FAIA, Principal at CAW.
When the theatre reopened, singer-songwriter Sam Smith celebrated with a two-week residency. Smith told the audience it was the most special show of their career and said that few venues compare to a space designed to welcome queer audiences.
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Josh Withers
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Bruce Damonte
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Bruce Damonte
Sacramento has needed a venue like this for a long time. Channel 24, commissioned by Another Planet Entertainment and developed by CAW with Ellis Architects, is a new 40,614-square-foot live entertainment space for 2,200 people. Until now, the city didn't have a proper home for mid-sized music acts.
Instead of trying to hide its setting, the design embraces it. Exposed concrete, raw metal panels, and visible structural framing reflect the area's industrial feel, giving the venue a relaxed, authentic vibe even before any band performs.
Inside, the hall has almost no columns, so the audience has a clear view of the stage. Steel roof trusses span 100 feet, and steep side balconies extend 35 feet into the room, bringing people close to the action. Engineers added tuned-mass dampers to the balconies to reduce vibrations from the crowd, along with a thick concrete roof deck to keep the sound quality high.
This mix of bold design and careful engineering got noticed. Channel 24 won the 2025 Structural Engineers Association Award for Excellence, making it a true cultural landmark in Sacramento's growing downtown.
Channel 24. Photography by Kat Alves
Channel 24. Photography by Kat Alves
Channel 24. Photography by Kat Alves
At UC Berkeley, CAW worked for the third time on the Hearst Greek Theatre, a National Historic Landmark from 1903. This project focused on reshaping the land, turning a steep and uncomfortable eastern lawn into a gently terraced, accessible seating area for about 3,000 people.
The team chose a patient approach instead of heavy excavation. By "balancing the site"—using earth from one area to build up another—they avoided hauling material away and created a new pedestrian plaza and promenade at the top of the bowl.
One of the biggest challenges wasn't about seating. The site needed a fire access lane for a nearby dorm, so the architects cleverly hid it within a lively pedestrian promenade made from permeable pavers. To respect the amphitheatre's 1903 roots, they kept the materials simple: concrete, natural turf, and Bega site lighting, all chosen for their lasting, understated look.
The result is a venue that feels both familiar and subtly changed.
The Greek Theatre. Photography by Bernardo Grijalva
The Greek Theatre. Photography by Bernardo Grijalva
The Greek Theatre. Photography by Bernardo Grijalva
These three venues are all different in size—an intimate movie palace, a custom concert hall, and an open-air amphitheatre on a hillside. But each one shows the same idea: the best way to move forward is not to erase the past, but to build the future with care around it.
“Accompanied with family here, I have to say, out of all of the shows I have ever done in my life, this is by far the most special show. Leading up to this, all of our hearts have just been so full of excitement and love and gratitude to be able to open this theatre in this way. In the UK, where I'm from, we have some beautiful rooms, but when it comes to rooms that are for queer people and for gay people, it's quite hard to find. Nothing—nothing—ever matches this room, so it is an honour to be with you tonight.” - Sam Smith, internationally renowned singer-songwriter
As Wasney says, the goal at the Castro Theatre was to let the building "honour its role as a sanctuary" while meeting the needs of a new era. This idea runs through all three projects. From San Francisco to Sacramento to Berkeley, CAW Architects has given Northern California three new reasons to come together, showing that its most cherished stages have a bright future ahead.
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Josh Withers
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Bruce Damonte
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Bruce Damonte
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Bruce Damonte
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Bruce Damonte
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Bruce Damonte
The Castro Theatre. Photography by Bruce Damonte
The Greek Theatre. Photography by Bernardo Grijalva
The Greek Theatre. Photography by Bernardo Grijalva
The Greek Theatre. Photography by Bernardo Grijalva
CAW Architects (CAW) aspires to change the world for the better, one beautifully designed project at a time. The firm’s commitment to architecture as an agent for social change is apparent in its award-winning body of work that champions educational and community-based projects.
Whether designing new buildings on distinguished campuses, in vibrant downtowns or in stately neighbourhoods, or adaptively reusing historic buildings in need of careful rehabilitation, CAW gives buildings a new lease on life, infusing them with energy and economic vitality. The San Francisco and San Jose-based firm prides itself on its superbly designed projects that respond uniquely to clients’ needs.
